What a fascinating kitchen. I love that sink and the unfitted furniture is just so cool. You're right, it isn't a kitchen for everyone, but I've looked at it several times and find something interesting about it each time. That window is amazing.

Thanks for sharing.

Oh my goodness that's such an improvement love the new colors . Sink is fabulous . Totally freestanding kitchen you don't see it much these days but it's very nice and fits the house . Good job with the vent .

Love, love unfitted kitchens. Was worried when I saw your "before" pics that your after was going to look like most of the "after" GW kitchens. Very nice! Only comment, I liked your before schoolhouse light better, but realize you may have needed more watts/lumens. Great job!

Very nice update! I absolutely love your floors.

Lovely fresh and bright update.

WOW your kitchen is HUGE. It appears you live in a stately old home. It is amazing to see the pieces you have integrated where built ins were not provided. So much more character this way!! Thanks for sharing.

It's just wonderful! That huge window is amazing, and I love the new soft green paint. It looks so cozy and welcoming, and I can picture it with holiday decor looking even cozier!

I just looooooooooove this kitchen.

I love your wonderful room! And I love the soft green color - your style comes together to make a happy, warm, inviting, unique kitchen (by today's standards) full of heart.

I, too, saw the first pictures and hoped you changed very little. Love the new kitchen! The red was so homey, the green is so serene and classic, a win either way. The new light fixture must make a big difference, and the new vent? Well done!

Two questions:

1. How do you use the bin below the microwave?

2. What is mounted on the side of the white hutch?

I loved it before, but like it even better now. It has a new freshness that is so appealing! And yes, that large window is just wonderful. The proportions of this entire space are so very nice. Well done!

First, I want to say thank you to everyone! It makes me happy that others can see what we have tried to accomplish. A functional (for us) warm and inviting kitchen. Iknow that today's standard kitchens are much different from ours. Even our tax assessor commented when he saw the kitchen that "not many women would want this kitchen"! What I find somewhat telling is that our kitchen is the room guests tend to gravitate to.

Bpathome, the bin below the microwave was originally a grain bin that we now use to hold our garbage and recycling. Mounted on the side of the cupboard is a Crystal coffee grinder. Similar to this.

I love the size of the window in your kitchen. Glad you found a space that works for you.

Thanks homepro01. Several posters have commented on the size of the window. All of the windows in the main/original part of the house are this size. I need 84" curtains for inside mount to fit the windows! Can be a problem as often store bought curtains are 84 inches "give or take" a few inches.

Mary Lu I just LOVE your kitchen. As a history buff and lover of antiques and the old ways of doing things, I would be in heaven there. Very much in keeping with the idea of the kitchen as a living space as well as a work space. The new colors really make the woods stand out (in a good way). I have one of those old coffee mills and want to start using it again, so I'm wondering if yours is functional and if you've every had to fix anything on it. I got mine from my grandma and she used it many years ago, to grind wheat for cracked wheat cereal. I don't know if I can use it for coffee which is what I would like to do.

I pink mountain, yes it does work. When we got it, it was caked with old coffee in the grinder part and would not turn. We took it apart and cleaned it and now it grinds wonderfully! Antiqueing and auctions are one of our favorite ways to spend time together. Other than appliances, the kitchen light, and mattresses we have not purchased any furniture new!

I like the new color, but the red was also wonderful. Your kitchen is beautiful! It is warm, inviting and filled with charm and history. Great job!

I love your kitchen! (And covet your sink. )

I was also afraid that you might have changed it too much from the initial pictures, since it's just a great charming kitchen with it's own special character. Looks great with the refreshed color.

A wonderful redo that honors the style and era of the house....

Beautiful and welcoming. Thanks for sharing!

A wonderful re-do that is just charming!

LOVE! I was holding my breath hoping that lovely sink wouldn't disappear in your after pics...so happy you didn't disappoint!

Charming. Totally!

Love the before, and the now. Glad you saved so much of the original character. So cozy and wonderful. Congrats!

(the tax assessor is not a big specialist in women's kitchen preferences, let me tell you that..)) Kitchen like yours would make me giddy with happiness, as a hostess, and as a guest too)

may you share a lot of joy with your loved ones there, for a long long time

..is it okay if I pin it?

Again, thank you so much everyone! Back last spring when I posted about possibly changing the color, I was torn. I still liked the red but after 15 years I was ready for a change. Also I wanted to lighten the room as it is fairly dark with only northern light. Each of your comments have affirmed that I did justice to my kitchen with my color choices and that I did not sacrifice the warmth and homey atmosphere. As my DH says "mama's happy"

Aprilneverends, pin away!

Wow. Just WOW. This is what a kitchen should be. I love your high ceilings and as other posters have said, I'm so glad you kept the original sink and the unfitted look. And I love the shelves above your doors. Were those in the original kitchen? I may copy that. Enjoy!

I love your new kitchen!!! It is now one of my favorites. I am also jealous of your high ceilings and big windows!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful kitchen. I love what you've done!

I'm in the group of those who loved the original kitchen but think the new version is even better. The green looks absolutely gorgeous with the wood floors and furniture.

Hopefully the tax assessor's ignorance worked in your favor.

It just couldn't be any more special! I'd want to hang out there, too, if I were your guest.

Is the range hood vented through the wall somehow, or is it ventless? I love how you hung it.

Olychick, sad to say it is ventless. Cost, time constraints, and the physical attributes of our home made it too big of a task at this time. Maybe sometime in the future or maybe the next caretakers will install a vented one. But we are looking at it as it is better than nothing. Our home has never had a hood in 148 years, so this is an improvement. DH had the idea of how we could install it. So have to give credit where credit is due!

Coolest kitchen ever!

Yep. coolest kitchen ever! As another old house owner, I refuse to give up the original features - mine aren't nearly as wonderful as yours. I love that you went against the grain and stayed true to the house.